2000 Dallas Cowboys season


The 2000 Dallas Cowboys season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would promote the team's long-time defensive coordinator, Dave Campo, to be the fifth head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This was also Troy Aikman's last season with the team.

Offseason

The loss of star wide receiver Michael Irvin to retirement led Jerry Jones to trade the team's first round pick in the 2000 draft and the 2001 draft to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver Joey Galloway. Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders would also be released after five seasons with the team. He would later sign with NFC East division rival, the Washington Redskins. Fullback Daryl Johnston also retired after the 1999 season.
AdditionsSubtractions
LB Joe Bowden WR Michael Irvin
QB Randall Cunningham CB Deion Sanders
WR Joey Galloway LB Randall Godfrey
TE Jackie Harris LB Lemanski Hall
CB Ryan McNeil CB Kevin Mathis
LB Barron Wortham FB Daryl Johnston
CB Phillippi Sparks

2000 draft class

Notes'''
PlayerPositionCollege
Troy HambrickFullbackSavannah State
Alcender JacksonGuardLSU
Micah KnorrPunterUtah State
Rian LindellKickerWashington State
Tim SederKickerAshland
Clint StoernerQuarterbackArkansas

Regular season

After a lackluster draft which saw the team draft three cornerbacks to replace the departure of star cornerback Deion Sanders, the Dave Campo head coaching era would have an inauspicious start with an embarrassing blow-out defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles at home. The loss would prove to be even more costly as quarterback Troy Aikman would suffer a serious concussion early in the game and newly acquired wide receiver Joey Galloway would suffer a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter.
New faces like veteran quarterback Randall Cunningham and wide receiver James McKnight would fill in on offense under new offensive coordinator Jack Reilly. On defense, the loss of both starting cornerbacks in the off-season required the addition of veterans Phillipi Sparks and Ryan McNeil. Combined with perennial Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson, the Cowboys fielded one of the NFL's best secondaries. Unfortunately, a leaky run defense and an inconsistent, aging offense would lead to a 5–11 record.
In a blow-out loss to the San Francisco 49ers, then controversial 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens would cause an uproar by celebrating a touchdown on the large Cowboys star at midfield in Texas Stadium, prompting anger and resentment off the field. This prompted a retaliation by running back Emmitt Smith with a famous "Defend the Star" kneel down celebration of his own on the star. When Owens scored his second touchdown and promptly celebrated in midfield once more, then-safety George Teague knocked Owens off and a short brawl ensued on the field. Owens immediately returned to the star to celebrate while the brawl ensued. Teague was ejected from the game, and Terrell Owens was suspended for the next game. Ironically, Owens would become a Cowboy later in his career.
Emmitt Smith's tenth consecutive 1,000 yard season, along with a season sweep of the rival Washington Redskins would prove to be the only highlights in an otherwise disappointing season.
The Cowboys finished 31st in the league in run defense that season, allowing 164.8 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry.
Notable additions to the team include future starting cornerback Mario Edwards, as well as Dwayne Goodrich. Goodrich would gain notoriety after being involved in a hit and run accident which resulted in the deaths of two people. He was subsequently convicted of criminally negligent homicide.

Schedule

Standings

Roster

Publications

The Football Encyclopedia

Total Football

Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes